Our expert reviews the best binoculars for bird and nature watching UK - from Nikon, Viking, Decathlon
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There are a number of things to consider if you’re in the market for a pair of binoculars for birdwatching. Not only do you need to think about the right magnification, but additionally it’s important to understand how some of the elements of good binoculars come together to magnify and stabilise the image you’re viewing.
Here, we’ll be assessing some excellent binoculars on the market at the moment, in a range of categories, styles and price points. We’ll also below outline what to look for when you’re shopping and testing the right binoculars for you.
Best binoculars at a glance
- Best for beginners: Viking Badger 10x25 Binoculars
- Best for stability: Bushnell Engage EDX 8x42
- Best for magnification: Nikon Action 12x50 CF Binoculars
- Best cheap and cheerful binoculars: Decathlon Adult Adjustable Binoculars
- Best for eliminating chromatic aberration: Celestron Nature DX 8x42 Binoculars
- Best for lightweight and compact: Zeiss Terra ED Compact 8x25cm Binoculars
What do you need in terms of stabilisation?
There’s always a balance to be struck between magnification and stabilisation - of course the higher you go in terms of zooming in, the more steady your hand needs to be. Some binoculars come with waist supports or threads to screw into a tripod - but these do tend to be amongst the more expensive options. We’d recommend trying a few with different zoom ranges, normally 8x or 10x magnification, to try out which feels best for you.
Weight versus magnification - how to chose?
The level of magnification, and therefore the amount of glass included in the binoculars, also determines the weight, which is a key consideration if you’ll be taking the binoculars on long walks or treks. You’ll want to look for binoculars that strike the right balance between weight and a large enough objective lens to let sufficient light through.
In many cases, in stands to reason that the larger the lens, the brighter the image you’ll view will be. Again, it’s worth testing a few out, as everyone’s eyes are different and have different shapes, sizes and focal ranges, so the right pair of binoculars can be a very personal thing.
That being said, here’s a list of some recommendations from us that will help you start your birdwatching journey.
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Key Specs
Objective lens diameter 25 Millimetres
Colour 10X25
Material Rubber
Lens coating description Multi-Coated
Water resistance level Waterproof
Zoom ratio 10 multiplier x
Affordable binoculars aimed at the casual user, we liked the fact they’re lightweight as well as being weatherproof, so we’d have no worries when it comes to taking them out in the best of British weather.
The focus’ wheel is easy to use, ideal for beginners.
10x multiplication is ample, and for birdwatchers to wear glasses, the twist-down eyecups mean they can be used with your spectacles in place. They feel sturdy, well built and durable too. A option for most people.
Key Specs:
Magnification [x] 8
Mount Connection Yes
Objective Lens Diameter [mm] 42
Type Roof prism
Bushnell Engage EDX binoculars take things to the next level, and are a great choice if you’re looking for increased performance and a crisp, clear and well manufactured lens.
We especially liked the fact that the lenses are coated with a unique EXO barrier, providing protection against water, oil, dust and any other contaminants that could affect your view. They’re pleasingly compact, too.
Solidly constructed, they come in at a hefty 666g , which can be a bit much on the arms after a while, but the views they offer are steady, and judder-free.
Key Specs:
Magnification: 12x
Objective diameter: 50mm
Field of view at 1000m: 96 m
Closest focusing distance: 7m/23 ft
Eye relief: 16.1mm/0.63
Weight: 36.8oz/1kg
Dimensions: 179 x 196 x 68mm
Nikon knows a thing or two about creating excellently designed lenses, so we had high hopes for their Action 12x50 CF binoculars.
First things first, 12 x magnification is impressive - the powerful lenses are well suited to birdwatching and best used for longer distance magnification - they have a 7 metre limit on what they’ll focus on close by.
The binoculars themselves however are bright and crisp, and they feel sturdy and weighty in the hand. For the magnification and the quality, we thought they were also well priced.
The Nikon Action EX 12x50 offers powerful magnification, but thanks to 50mm objective lenses, it lets in as much light as possible - a fabulous picture.
Key Specs:
Size: semi-compact Focus: central Prism type: roof Prism lens: BK-7 Min. focus distance: 10.7m Seal/antifog: non
If you’re birdwatching on a budget, Decathlon offers these compact, lightweight options that are easy to use and offer a bright view through large lenses that convey a lot of light.
Of course, at this price, build quality does suffer a little and we sometimes found that the scroll wheel was a little hard to use to get accurate focus, but otherwise we enjoyed using them and wouldn’t hesitate to add them to our rucksack when out and about on the hills.
Key Specs:
Objective lens diameter 42 Millimetres
Magnification maximum 8 x
Material Rubber
Size map 8x42
Model name 72332
Eye relief 17.8 Millimetres
Exit pupil 5.25 Millimetres
These binoculars are versatile and easy to use, offering superior glass that although are only 8x magnification, provide sharp, crisp results. The Extra-Low Dispersion (ED) glass virtually totally eliminates chromatic aberration (colour fringing - an outline of unwanted colour along the edges of objects)- especially noticeable in low light conditions whilst using the binoculars in dawn and dusk environments.
As with many good binoculars on this list, we also appreciated the twist-up eyecups that make life a lot easier for spectacle-wearers.
Key Specs:
Magnification 8x
objective-diameter 25
zeiss-range Terra ED Pocket
Binocular Type Compact
In the lens world, it’s fair to say that Zeiss needs no introduction. Their lenses are in everything from binoculars and cameras to microscopes and tools - and although these sit at the higher end of the pricing spectrum you can be sure of excellent glass and an exemplary build quality that feels easy to use, durable and rugged.
We liked these options because they’re extremely compact, perfect for popping in your coat pocket whilst out on the hills. At only 310g, they’re also very lightweight.